Section 2(2)
1 In this Schedule “the restoration order” means the restoration order made by virtue of section 2(2).
2 (1) Subsections (2) to (7) of section 3 of the 2000 Act do not apply in relation to the restoration order (and, accordingly, no person who immediately before the most recent suspension held an office mentioned in any of those subsections shall resume that office on 26 March 2007).
(2) On 26 March 2007—
(a) the First Minister designate shall, subject to sub-paragraph (4), become the First Minister, and
(b) the deputy First Minister designate shall, subject to sub-paragraph (4), become the deputy First Minister,
(and section 16A of the 1998 Act does not apply).
(3) In sub-paragraph (2)—
“the First Minister designate” means the person whose nomination by virtue of paragraph 3 of Schedule 1 to this Act to hold office as First Minister has effect immediately before 26 March 2007;
“the deputy First Minister designate” means the person whose nomination by virtue of that paragraph to hold office as deputy First Minister has effect immediately before that date.
(4) But the persons whose nominations so have effect shall not take up office until each of them has affirmed the terms of the pledge of office (within the meaning given by section 16C(14) of the 1998 Act).
(5) On 26 March 2007, the Ministerial offices to be held by Northern Ireland Ministers shall be filled by applying section 18(2) to (6) of the 1998 Act (and section 16A of the 1998 Act does not apply).
(6) But for that purpose, section 18 of that Act shall have effect as if the reference, in the definition of “S” in subsection (5) of that section, to the day on which the Assembly first met following its election were a reference to the first day on which the Transitional Assembly met after 7 March 2007.
(7) In this paragraph “the most recent suspension” means the most recent suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly by virtue of section 1 of the 2000 Act.
3 (1) The person who is presiding officer of the Transitional Assembly immediately before 26 March 2007 shall be deemed to have been elected as Presiding Officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly under section 39(1) of the 1998 Act on that date (and, accordingly, any person who is a deputy Presiding Officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly immediately before that date shall cease to hold office under section 39(2) of that Act on that date).
(2) Each person who is a deputy presiding officer of the Transitional Assembly immediately before 26 March 2007 shall be deemed to have been elected as a deputy Presiding Officer of the Northern Ireland Assembly under section 39(1) of the 1998 Act on that date.
4 (1) The provision that may be made by the restoration order by virtue of section 7(2) of the 2000 Act includes provision—
(a) for treating things done (or treated as done) under or by virtue of this Act as having been done under or by virtue of the 1998 Act;
(b) for treating things done (or treated as done) by or in relation to the Transitional Assembly (or members of that Assembly) as having been done by or in relation to the Northern Ireland Assembly (or members of that Assembly).
(2) Section 2(3) of the 2000 Act (taking account of review under Validation, Implementation and Review section of Belfast Agreement) does not apply in relation to the restoration order.
5 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to the first occasion on or after 26 March 2007 on which the offices of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the statutory committees are to be filled in accordance with standing orders made under section 29 of the 1998 Act.
(2) That section (and those standing orders) shall have effect as if the reference, in the definition of “S” in subsection (3) of that section (and in those standing orders), to the day on which the Assembly first met following its election were a reference to the first day on which the Transitional Assembly met after 7 March 2007.
6 (1) This paragraph applies in relation to the first occasion on or after 26 March 2007 on which the political members of the Northern Ireland Policing Board are to be nominated in accordance with paragraph 7 of Schedule 1 to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (c. 32).
(2) That paragraph shall have effect as if the reference, in the definition of “S” in sub-paragraph (7) of that paragraph, to the day on which the Assembly first met following its election were a reference to the first day on which the Transitional Assembly met after 7 March 2007.
7 The following provisions of this Act are repealed—
(a) section 1(1) and (2), and
(b) Schedule 1.
Section 2(1) or (4)
1 If this Schedule comes into force before 30 January 2007 or after 7 March 2007, the Northern Ireland Assembly shall be dissolved on the date on which it comes into force.
2 (1) In section 31 of the 1998 Act (Northern Ireland Assembly: dates of elections and dissolutions), for subsection (2) substitute—
“(2) The date of the poll for the election of the Assembly next following the current Assembly shall be a date to be specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.
In this subsection “the current Assembly” means—
(a) if Schedule 3 to the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 comes into force on or before 7 March 2007, the Assembly elected at the poll on 26 November 2003;
(b) otherwise, the Assembly elected at the poll on 7 March 2007.
(2A) An order under subsection (2) may not specify a date falling on or before the date on which the poll would (apart from that subsection) fall to be held under subsection (1).
(2B) An order under subsection (2) may include provision making such modifications of—
(a) any enactment (other than one contained in this Act), or
(b) any provision of subordinate legislation,
as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of, or in consequence of or in connection with, the order.
(2C) An order under subsection (2) may, in particular, make provision modifying any duty of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland whereby (apart from the order) he must perform any function or discharge any duty on or by reference to a particular date.
(2D) An order under subsection (2) may also make such supplementary, incidental or consequential provision as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient.”
(2) In subsection (1) of that section, for “subsection (2)” substitute “subsections (2) to (3)”.
3 (1) The following provisions of this Act are repealed—
(a) section 1(1) and (2),
(b) section 3,
(c) Schedule 1,
(d) Schedule 2,
(e) Schedule 4, and
(f) Part 2 (including Schedules 5 to 7).
(2) If this Schedule comes into force on 28 March 2007, the enactments amended by Part 2 (including Schedules 5 to 7) shall be deemed to have effect, as from that date, as if the amendments made by that Part had not been made.